Hudson’s Kimungu Buried as an American Citizen

by Lynne Ober

Penny Jones with her daughter Martha Karugu, cherish the flag that Anthony Kimungu gave his life for.

Former English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) once said, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” Although Raban Anthony Kimungu had not yet been born when these words were uttered, he exemplifies them. Anthony Kimungu lived his life to the fullest. Although he died at too young an age, he left behind a legacy of heroism for all to remember and honor. Disraeli surely would have agreed.

Kimungu, 24, migrated to America when he was four years old and wanted to become an American citizen. He graduated from Alvirne High School and then entered the Marines.

He served two tours of duty in Iraq where he fought for American freedom. In 2005 he was hit in the head by a sniper’s bullet, but survived – something that rarely happens. After he was well, he was sent back to Iraq, but he hid the fact that he had returned immediately to combat from his family because he didn’t want them to worry.

Kimungu was on terminal leave when the car he was driving crashed on the Everett Turnpike. Although his two passengers were not seriously hurt, Kimungu was killed. His life cut short. His dreams unrealized.

Enter Arthur Martel, a Vietnam veteran and family friend. Martel led the push to have Kimungu declared an American citizen. Before his burial, citizenship was granted.

“That was his dream,” said his mother, Penny Jones. “He wanted to be an American.”

Congressman Charles Bass presented the posthumous citizenship papers to the family at the funeral. Gov. John Lynch was also in attendance

The three-hour funeral was a cross-cultural event with friends, family and dignitaries all treated like family. Everyone was called “brother.”

Approximately a dozen Marines who served with Kimungu attended the funeral. They had come from all over the country to honor their friend and fallen comrade. They all had positive stories about “K” and his love of life. While there was sadness, there was also a realization the memories of “K” will follow them all their days.

Chris Higney, a fellow Marine and friend, characterized “K” as having huge amounts of positive energy that he shared with everyone. “A candle that burns twice as bright only has to burn half as long,” stated Higney.

Others talked about his short life and how much he had accomplished in his time on earth.

Hymns were sung in English and in the African languages of Kikuyu and Swahili.

Finally it was time to lower the casket into the grave.

Anthony Kimungu’s life may have been short, but he exemplified the words of Napoleon Bonaparte,

“True heroism consists in being superior to the ills of life, in whatever shape they may challenge us to combat.”

Rest in peace and know that America thanks you for your service.

Mom says goodbye.

Casket enters Edgewood Cemetery.

Proposed Solid Waste Contract Includes Recycling

by Doug Robinson

Trash is big business. And to say it is picking up is an understatement. The new solid waste removal contract which was recently proposed to the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Hudson is estimated to increase by 3 percent, or cost the residents approximately $1.69 million.

Upon acceptance by the selectmen, the new contract with Corcoran Environmental Services, as proposed by Road Agent Kevin Burns will change the way the town does business. “I believe this is an opportunity to start a new program with a new contractor to pursue recycling for not only environmental but economic reasons” stated Burns.

Corcoran Environmental Services is a New England-based company dedicated to solving recycling challenges for businesses and municipalities according to their Website. Operating from Kennebunk, Maine, with additional offices in Manchester, the company currently services national accounts, universities, and communities domestically with innovative recycling and waste diversion programs. Effective recycling is a key goal for most organizations today

The new program, proposed by Burns, suggests that the selectmen ink the five-year deal with Corcoran Environmental, a company which has teamed up with Pinard Waste System, to collect Hudson’s trash. Communities such as Manchester and Dover gave Corcoran excellent reviews when questioned by Burns regarding their level of service and their quality of service. For the past years, trash in Hudson has been collected by Waste Management.

The Town of Hudson received five bids when the town solicited for proposals. Corcoran Environmental’s bid was approximately $200,000 below Waste Management and approximately $600,000 below Allied.

The keys to the success of the new solid waste contract rests with reduced trash and increased recycling. In past years, Hudson has paid a flat fee for solid waste removal, whether the trash is recyclables or regular trash. The new contract will permit homeowners and renters to place up to two totes of trash for collection, and an unlimited number of bins for recycling. While two different sizes of totes are offered by Corcoran, 64 and 128 gallon, the Board of Selectmen is considering the use of only the 64 gallon tote. According to Maddox, the seniors were concerned with the size of the larger tote and that due to its size; it would be difficult for them to navigate.

Selectmen, Chairman Richard Maddox and Kathleen MacLean, demonstrate and discuss the proposed new trash program with voters during the voting of 11/7. While many voters wanted to jump into the barrels, dumpster diving was disallowed.

These totes will be offered free of charge to the home occupant by Corcoran. Home occupants will be allowed up to two totes for trash per week and the second tote will be offered at a cost to the home occupant for a one time fee of $75.

“With this being a five-year contract and our price being linked to our per ton disposal cost of solid waste, I think a cart system and curbside recycling is in our long-term best interest. By using the automated cart system we will be limiting our total tonnage.”

Expenses for the town of Hudson will also be save as Hudson’s trash will be removed with the use of two automated trucks versus the current system of three trucks with an employee dumping the trashing into the back of the truck.

“Hudson has never been motivated to recycle,” continued Burns, “and Corcoran is dedicated to educating our residents to curbside recycling. Recycling will reduce our overall solid waste costs as it will reduce our overall trash tonnage.”

The new contract would include the town clean-up days as well as drop-off recycling at the town dump on town clean-up days. Burns stated that he will be working with Corcoran to establish a fee schedule for the removal of household trash which does not fit into the totes, such as chairs, tables, and sofas. Chairman Richard Maddox jokingly suggested that there is going to be “run” on the purchase of saws, as homeowners will attempt to cut up and place their unwanted items into the tote.

The voters of Hudson had mixed reviews when discussing the totes with the Selectmen. Barbara Tessier, Hudson, stated that she thought the new program was “very good. I stopped recycling when they dropped my glass all over the street and then they cleaned it up with just a little broom.”

A resident who asked not to be identified stated that the $75 fee for the second tote was too high and that there should be allowances for families with many children. “A family of six will generate more trash than a family of three, and they should get more totes at no charge or at a lesser charge of $75.

Burns further stated that, “I know that I have done a flip-flop on recycling. I also want to point out that this (contract) funded at the $1.69 million would be setting us up for 11 years, six already, and five to come with very little if any increase in the solid waste budget.”